EMILY PRATT SLATIN

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She/Her/Hers Lesbian

Retired Career Fire and EMS Lieutenant-Specialist, Writer, and Master Photographer, living in Vermont.

Alowing My Health To Deteriorate

November 9, 2026—Middletown Springs, Vermont (Home)

I didn’t get to sleep last night until two in the morning. Four hours later, I was awake again.

I have been struggling with depression recently, largely because of the way people continue to treat me. I have spent most of my life being misunderstood, misrepresented, accused of things I haven't done, and forced to defend myself against people who seem determined to believe whatever version of me they have invented in their own minds.

At this point in my life, I am fucking exhausted.

This morning, I texted Amelia and Makayla to tell them that I was considering no longer taking my medication. More specifically, I was thinking about discontinuing my hormone replacement therapy, knowing that doing so could have serious, potentially life-threatening consequences.

I had reached a point where I was contemplating allowing my health to deteriorate rather than continuing to live in a world where I am constantly accused of being transgender and lying about having been assigned female at birth.

I am a woman. I was assigned female at birth. I was born intersex. I am not transgender. These are biological and medical facts, not opinions, political positions, or subjects upon which strangers are entitled to conduct a public debate.